German Court Rules SUV Owners Can Be Fined More for Breaking Traffic Laws
A court in Frankfurt, Germany, ruled earlier this month that an SUV driver who ran a red light should be charged nearly twice the normal fine as someone in a smaller car due to the increased risk his vehicle posed to pedestrians.
This ruling could set a future precedence for how the courts deal with the threat these big bulky vehicles pose to pedestrians. If you’ve ever been to Germany, you know there are plenty of bigger vehicles, mostly vans and wagons, but SUVs are a growing presence. It seems the boxy build and poor visibility of the SUVs is as much a problem for the courts as the size and weight of the vehicles. From Reuters via Autoblog :
The court argued that the shape of the SUV, with its high, box-like hood, meant the driving infraction posed a greater risk to pedestrians than if the defendant had driven a smaller car. It also took into account the defendant’s previous driving convictions.
Instead of paying a $200 fine, the driver of this SUV is getting hit with a $365 fine. He also earned a 1-month suspension of his license. Germany doesn’t play around when it comes to traffic safety.
